Nintendo fans won't have to wait much longer to get their hands on the Switch 2. The successor to one of the best-selling video game consoles of all time is slated to release June 5, Nintendo announced during its hour-long livestream that fully lifted the veil on the Switch 2. You also don't have to wait much longer to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2, as Nintendo revealed that major retailers will open reservations online and in stores on April 9. The Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $450 at launch. There will also be a bundle with a digital copy of the Switch 2-exclusive launch title Mario Kart World for $500.
When you open the Nintendo Switch 2's box, here's what you'll find inside:
Switch 2 console with 7.9-inch display
Two of Nintendo's new Joy-Con controllers
Joy-Con grip for TV mode
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock for TV mode
AC adapter with USB-C power cable
HDMI cable
Best Buy, Walmart, GameStop, and Target will be taking Nintendo Switch 2 preorders starting April 9. It's unknown at this time if Amazon will add the Switch 2 or the upcoming first-party games and accessories to its inventory.
Video game consoles typically don't come with preorder bonuses in the same way that games often do, but with Nintendo products, retailers often have exclusive bonuses. These range from practical products themed around Nintendo, such as tote bags and popcorn buckets, to display pieces and little trinkets. One unknown retailer is rumored to have a collectible coin for those who preorder the Switch 2. We will update this article as Switch 2 preorder bonuses are confirmed.
We expect that all major retailers who typically carry Nintendo hardware and first-party games will create placeholder pages for the Nintendo Switch 2 either today or in the coming days. Best Buy, for instance, has had a sign-up page on its site since Nintendo officially announced the Switch 2 in January. You can still sign up to receive notifications now, if interested. At GameStop, the actual store page where you'll be able to order the Switch 2 is now live. Like Best Buy, you can sign up for notifications to be informed on preorder timing. Target and Walmart have banners on their Nintendo store pages for the Switch 2.
Fans eagerly anticipating news about Hollow Knight: Silksong have received a sliver of hope, as the recent Switch 2 Nintendo Direct briefly featured Team Cherry's long-in-the-works sequel.
Hollow Knight: Silksong made an appearance during a montage of third-party games set to come to Switch 2. The gameplay clip was only a few seconds long but did confirm that Hollow Knight: Silksong is slated to release on Switch 2 in 2025, though no other details were provided.
Team Cherry's highly anticipated metroidvania was originally announced for Nintendo Switch and PC as part of an E3 2019 Nintendo Direct, and was later confirmed to also be releasing on Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
Nintendo showcased a ton of games for its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 system during its April Nintendo Direct presentation, including a brand-new racing game starring the adorable puffball Kirby.
Kirby Air Riders, a sequel to the GameCube cult hit Kirby Air Ride, is coming exclusively to Switch 2. Moreover, it's being directed by series creator Masahiro Sakurai, most famous for his work on the Super Smash Bros. franchise. This marks Sakurai's first Kirby title since the original Air Ride.
The announcement trailer, seen above, offers a brief look at the new game, showcasing Kirby on a rocket-powered Warp Star racing through a verdant meadow against three other Kirbys. No other details were shared, but Nintendo confirmed the title will launch sometime this year.
As part of the Nintendo Direct today, Nintendo announced a brand-new 3D Donkey Kong game It's called Donkey Kong Bananza, and it will release on July 17, 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2.
A trailer for Bananza showed DK smashing and pounding everything in his way. More details will be announced for the title in the time ahead, Nintendo said. Check out the announcement trailer below.
Be sure to check out GameSpot's news roundup gallery below to see all the biggest news and reveals from the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller was officially revealed during the latest Nintendo Direct, and it's making some incremental improvements to the existing gamepad. Launching on June 5 alongside Switch 2, it includes several new buttons--including a C button to launch GameChat and two back buttons.
Beyond the inclusion of new buttons, you'll also find a headphone jack--a notable omission on the current Switch Pro controller. Beyond that, it looks to share many of the same features. Nintendo is yet to confirm all its specifications, but we'd expect gyro controls and rumble to make a return. It's unclear if Hall Effect or TMR sensors are used for the joysticks.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
Gallery
As far as looks are concerned, it's quite similar to the standard Switch Pro Controller. Featuring offset analog sticks, a D-pad, four face buttons, and four bumpers on the top of the gamepad, it looks remarkably similar to its predecessor.
As part of the Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo has announced that GameCube games will come to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack for the first time--and they'll be exclusive to the Switch 2.
A small library of GameCube games will be available on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription service as soon as the Switch 2 launches, with the launch games including favorites like Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX. Some titles will even have extra functionality on the Switch 2, with games that support multiplayer now supporting online play for up to four players, as well as local play.
While only the three games will be available from launch, Nintendo has teased some of the other GameCube games that will come to the Switch 2 further down the track, including:
Nintendo has announced a new 3v3 sports title: Drag x Drive. Releasing exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, Drag x Drive will put your hoop-shooting skills--and the Joy-Con 2's mouse controls--to the test.
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025
Revealed as a part of April's Nintendo Switch 2 direct, Drag x Drive sees you take control of your own wheelchair-wielding athlete in an intense game of something kinda-sorta resembling basketball. In order to move around and pull off maneuvers, players will have to use the new console's mouse controls, then take aim and lift the Joy-Con 2 into the air to shoot for the basket.
Drag x Drive's release date has yet to be announced.
During today's Nintendo Switch 2 broadcast, From Software announced a brand-new title, The Duskbloods, which will be exclusive to the new console.
The Duskbloods appears to be centered around vampires, or similar creatures, and features a range of familiar From Software mechanics and gameplay.
The Duskbloods is exclusive to the Switch 2 console.
It looks to bear the same challenging combat style, as well as impressive and immersive worldbuilding. The trailer begins with a scarred hand reaching out to another, and a female voice stating, "I give you my blood. I give you my life. Turn, oh wheel, and transport him to a night of moonlight, to humanity's very dusk." This could be interpreted as the method of humanity turning into a vampiric state.
As part of the Nintendo Direct, CD Projekt Red confirmed that it's bringing Cyberpunk 2077 to Nintendo Switch 2. It'll be a launch title for the system, debuting on June 5.
CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3 came to the original Switch, so it's not the first time the company is supporting a Nintendo platform.
Cyberpunk 2077 originally released in December 2020 and had a challenging launch, as the game's buggy state was so problematic that Sony pulled the game from sale on the PlayStation Store for a period of time. CD Projekt Red spent years updating and improving upon the game, and now it's one of the best-selling RPGs in the history of video games.
Nintendo Switch 2 is attempting to streamline the process of connecting with your friends, thanks to the addition of a new C button that launches a chat interface. You'll also get a chance to have actual video chats with your friends, as the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera will launch alongside the console on June 5.
While we don't have a full specification list for the camera, it's designed to connect to your Switch 2 via a USB-C port. It'll then allow you and your friends to join webchats, negating the need to use the Nintendo Switch Online app on your phone. There also seem to be some in-game features that require the camera, including various mini-games in Mario Party Jamboree.
Nintendo Switch 2 Camera
You'll need to have a Nintendo Switch Online membership to use GameChat. However, GameChat will have a brief open access period that allows everyone to try the feature for free. When using the camera feed, your screen will split into two sections--a large top portion showing your game and a smaller panel at the bottom showing your group's streams.
Announced during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is the next Dynasty Warriors-style game set in The Legend of Zelda universe. The game's story leads into the story of Tears of the Kingdom, following Zelda.
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025
Age of Imprisonment is an action game in which you have to fight larges armies of enemies at once. While there will be multiple playable characters, it appears that Zelda is the main character here. The story is set during the Imprisonment War, following Zelda's journey into the past. These events tie directly to the main story of Tears of the Kingdom.
As for the rest of the playable cast, there are several holders of the Secret Stones--the characters from the past in Tears of the Kingdom. These warriors were kept to flashbacks in Tears of the Kingdom, but Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment will let them show off their combat skills.
During today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct presentation, Warner Bros. and Portkey Games announced a Nintendo Switch 2 port of Hogwarts Legacy, the open-world adventure set in the Harry Potter universe.
Hogwarts Legacy is developed by Avalanche Software, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game has been embroiled in controversy due to transphobic remarks from Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Although she is not personally involved with its development, she stands to profit from its success. For more, read our in-depth article on how Rowling's comments have impacted the trans community. In this article, you will also find links to trans creators you can support, as well ascharities you can donate to.
After that, IO will bring its upcoming James Bond title--which tells an original story and is not based on any of the previous movies--to the Switch 2 at some point in the future.
As part of the Nintendo Direct today, Nintendo and Hazelight announced that the popular co-op game Split Fiction is receiving a Switch 2 port. The game launched in February 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and now it's headed to Switch 2 as a launch title this June.
From Software's popular RPG Elden Ring is expanding to a new platform: Switch 2. As part of the Nintendo Direct today, Nintendo and Bandai Namco confirmed Elden Ring for the console. Elden Ring will launch for Nintendo Switch 2 later this year. A specific release date was not announced, however.
April 1 is generally a day where everyone is a tad bit more skeptical than usual, but Goat Simulator 3 developer Coffee Stain North chose today to hold its first--and possibly last--Goat Direct showcase to reveal what's next for the franchise. Filled with announcements for several real things that are definitely happening, the presentation helped end the 10th-anniversary celebrations of Goat Simulator with the reveal of a new in-game update for Goat Simulator 3, Pilgor plushies, and more.
Goat Simulator: The Card Game
First up, Coffee Stain North showed off Goat Simulator: The Card Game. This will launch on Kickstarter on April 30, and the aim of this tabletop experience is to translate the chaos of the video games into a card-game format.
Goat Simulator-themed CRKD controllers
Switch 2 on the way, but for anyone content to stick with the original Nintendo device, you can look forward to a Goat Simulator edition of the Nitro Deck. CRKD will launch a new controller collection for the console, and each one will be decked out in themed artwork celebrating Pilgor and his world. These will be available exclusively from the CRKD website for a limited time, and in case you haven't checked them out yet, Nitro Decks are quite nice as they offer Hall Effect sticks, four mappable back buttons, adjustable trigger sensitivity, and a low-latency USB-C connection.
Goat Simulator 3 on Twitch Rivals
A Goat Simulator 3 showdown has been announced for the online tournament series Twitch rivals, as four teams will be going head-to-head to crown the real streaming GOAT. You can tune in on the Twitch Rivals channel today to see the competition in action, starting at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET.
Goat Simulator 3 free update: Gifts from the Rifts
To cap off the 10th-anniversary celebration of Goat Simulator, Coffee Stain North will unleash a free in-game update. The developer says that this includes "a multitude of unreleased ideas" through 27 new gears and an additional hidden gear that'll cost you a few bucks--more on that below. There'll also be a new alternate goat in the form of Plushie Pilgor.
YouTooz Collectible Pilgor plushie
Related to the Goat Simulator 3 update, fans of the game can now preorder their own Pilgor from YouTooz. Hold it, squeeze it, or maybe even simulate the neverending chaos of life by hurling it at random objects so that you can play Goat Simulator IRL. Purchasing the plushie will also grant access to the hidden in-game gear as part of the Gifts from the Rifts update.
Multiverse of Nonsense update coming to Goat Simulator 3 on mobile
Meanwhile, mobile players of Goat Simulator 3 can check out the Multiverse of Nonsense update on iOS and Android. According to Coffee Stain, this will let you explore a mythological mountaintop, a cartoon town, and a city where Human Simulator 3 was the hottest game of 2022.
Return of "A Goat" Outfit in Fortnite
We don't know what's more disturbing: that Pilgor's anthropomorphic skin for Fortnite is making another comeback, or that he's in better physical condition than most of us.
Oh, one more thing…
What could possibly be next for Pilgor and San Angora? "Something" weird according to this brief teaser trailer that hinted at Pilgor's journey continuining across trippy dimensions.
Pokemon Trading Card Game collectors can snag a really cool Super-Premium Collection for a terrific price while supplies last. Amazon is offering a massive discount on the Charizard ex Super-Premium Collection that drops the price from $80 down to only $50. This collector's box set released last fall and has seen multiple discounts, but this latest deal is the best one yet.
HBO's The Last of Us returns for its second season on April 13, and ahead of that, showrunner Craig Mazin has said Season 2 is the show's "Empire Strikes Back" season, suggesting a dark turn for the story akin to the second Star Wars movie. He said in an interview that sequels are challenging in part because the characters are tested in new ways.
In the first season, main characters Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) went through many hardships but endured and largely succeeded in their endeavors. They may not be so fortunate in Season 2. In Season 2, "They aren't getting away with shit," Mazin said of Joel and Ellie in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
"I love The Empire Strikes Back, and I think everybody should," Mazin said. "We love that one because the second act is the tough act. That's when everything is challenged and characters go through these moments where they can't be who they used to be, but they're also not ready to be who they're supposed to be. There's a sense of feeling lost. And I love that."
When it comes to picking the best fighting game, there's no shortage of options--the genre has been one of the industry's most consistent since the early 1990s. Names like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Tekken have grown into some of the biggest series in the entire industry, let alone just fighting games, and they continue to get better through additional downloadable characters--some hailing from outside of the fighting game scene. At the moment, fighters are in the midst of another renaissance era.
As such, it might be intimidating to pick out a fighting game to play. Below, we run through our picks for some of the best fighting games you can play right now, whether you're on PS5, Xbox, Switch, or PC. Every game listed here can be purchased and downloaded right to your machine without needing to dig up any old hardware, and you'll be able to get into the fight whenever you like. From pure 1v1 fighters to chaotic platform battlers, from all-time classics to modern melees, these are the best of the best in fighting games in 2025.
Street Fighter 6
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: June 2, 2023
Street Fighter has routinely blazed a trail of success for fighting games as a whole, starting with Street Fighter II in 1991. Street Fighter 6 is no different; the vast improvements over its predecessor, coupled with an ever-growing roster and a robust online offering, have made SF6 one of the top fighting games on the market today. SF6's trajectory continues to trend upward, as it recently added Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui--the first guest characters in franchise history--to the roster, and the second season of DLC will soon end with the Capoeira master Elena.
The latest in Bandai Namco's illustrious fighting franchise, Tekken 8 has stormed out of the gate in its first year. The Heat system offers a new level of offensive capabilities, the roster is packed with iconic characters from across the franchise, and the story mode is a wild ride following the struggle between Kazuya and his son, Jin. Plus, a full suite of customization options will let you transform your favorite character how you see fit, which adds a personal touch to the action. The first season of downloadable content added Heihachi Mishima, Lidia, Eddy Gordo, and guest character Clive from Final Fantasy XVI, and Season 2 has just kicked off with franchise veteran Anna Williams.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Release Date: September 19, 2023
NetherRealm Studios's gloriously gory fighting franchise has reset the stage in Mortal Kombat 1, with a new era bringing big changes to established faces. The combat is still fast and furious, however, and the series's trademark Fatalities will both delight and disgust. Throw in guest characters like Homelander, Peacemaker, and Omni-Man, in-depth single-player modes, and more, and you have one bloody good time. Kombat Pack 2 kept the guest character train rolling with Ghostface, Conan the Barbarian, and T-1000, but rumors suggest that may be the end of the road for MK1.
The anime subgenre of fighting games has built a reputation of precise, skill-based action, and the name Guilty Gear has been at the forefront of the conversation. Guilty Gear Strive has plenty of it to offer too, both through its multi-tiered online system and a roster with three seasons (and counting) of new additions under its belt--Season 4 began late last year with Dizzy, while Venom entered the fray in March. Strive is one of the more tenured games on this list, but it's only getting better with age.
Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is a sequel to Granblue Fantasy Versus--CyGames and Arc System Works's first attempt at bringing the world-renowned mobile RPG series to fighting games in 2020. The new entry brought major improvements, including an all-new online system featuring rollback netcode, redesigned fighting mechanics, and an expanded roster--including 2B from Nier: Automata as DLC. Pair all of this with a striking visual style, and Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising offers plenty for fighting fans to enjoy.
Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
Platforms: PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC (coming to Xbox in 2025)
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: September 12, 2024 (digital); November 22, 2024 (physical)
The late '90s and early 2000s were dominated by Capcom's Vs. Series, with Marvel Vs. Capcom and its ilk leading the charge. The games were thought lost to time, but the two companies have finally rereleased them in a single collection, with rollback netcode, a music jukebox, and an art gallery to boot. Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics gives fighting fans something they've been requesting for over a decade, and it was worth the wait.
Release Date: November 23, 2023 (original launch November 22, 2013)
11 years ago, Killer Instinct re-emerged as an Xbox One launch title, and it became the first free-to-play fighting game on the market. Since then, it's grown to be a cult classic, with a flashy combo-based fighting system and characters from Halo, Gears Of War, and Battletoads alongside the KI originals. The recently released Anniversary Edition offers the full game, all of its DLC, and a new balance patch all in one package, and is the perfect way to experience KI right now. And if you subscribe to Game Pass, you can play it for free.
Everyone is here! Super Smash Bros. Ultimate takes the platform-fighting format the Smash Bros. series popularized and cranks it up to 11, with a roster bursting at the seams with fighters and over 100 stages (or even more, counting the modified versions) to fight in. Nintendo stalwarts like Mario, Link, and Pikachu can do battle with the likes of Steve from Minecraft, Banjo-Kazooie, Cloud and Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII, and Sora from Kingdom Hearts. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is video-game history in a box, one of the best Switch games, and a must-own for fighting fans and Switch owners alike.
The King of Fighters has offered SNK fans hard-hitting three-on-three action since the first game in 1996, and KOF XV is no exception. Mixing and matching your favorite fighters, then choosing the order in which they'll fight, adds an extra layer of strategy that other fighting games simply don't have. KOF XV is a great choice for those who like that extra challenge every time they enter a match.
Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is the top game in the storied history of Marvel and Capcom crossovers--sorry MvC Infinite--and it's still a blast to play despite being 12 years old. While UMvC3 is also a three-on-three team fighter like KOF XV, that's where the similarities end, as all three characters can be switched in and out at will to create absolute havoc on the screen, and it's always a delight. While the aforementioned Marvel Vs. Capcom Collection is also an option, UMvC3 is a chance to see where the series stands now.
Release Date: July 22, 2024 (original launch July 24, 2003)
Evo 2024 saw the return of SNK Vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, a weird-but-wonderful entry in the pantheon of Capcom and SNK crossover fighters. SVC Chaos was developed by SNK, so while the character roster is split between the two companies, the fighting mechanics and visual style are all SNK. While it hasn't resonated as much with players as the Capcom Vs. SNK games, the recent SVC Chaos re-release is a neat time capsule of a bygone era of fighting games.
While Tekken has ruled the roost in Bandai Namco's fighting division as of late, Soul Calibur has flown under the radar despite producing one of the best fighters currently available. Soul Calibur VI features crisp weapon-based 3D fighting, with an iconic cast of characters including guests like Geralt from The Witcher and 2B from Nier: Automata--her second appearance on this list. We don't know if a new Soul Calibur game will ever come, but for now Soul Calibur VI more than gets the job done.
Speaking of under the radar, Under Night In-Birth surprised a lot of people when the first game hit arcades in 2012. After a few revisions, the sequel Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes finally released earlier this year, and it's become one of the top anime fighters on the market. The precise, skill-based fighting gameplay we mentioned before is on full display here, and the Grind system's push-and-pull mechanic makes each round a nail biter to the end. If you like fighting games at all, Under Night should be on your radar.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Developer: Player First Games, Warner Bros.
Release Date: May 28, 2024
At first glance, MultiVersus looks like a simple "Smash Bros. but with WB characters" situation. However, there is much more with MultiVersus than meets the eye, with additional fighting mechanics and a focus on two-on-two fighting giving players more than just "more Smash Bros." It's free to download, too, but not for much longer--Warner Bros. recently announced the game is shutting down in May 2025. Now is the time to hop in if you need a Smash alternative. If you take some steps ahead of time, you'll still be able to play MultiVersus offline.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: June 24, 2022
Capcom Fighting Collection is 10 fighting games in one package, which already means you're getting a big bang for your buck. However, considering how rare some of these games were before they hit this collection--Vampire Savior II and Red Earth chief among them--this collection may be the only way you can play them officially. This fighting collection acts as a terrific time capsule to the past, and each game is worth the walk down memory lane.
DNF Duel and Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising have a lot in common; they both adapted long-tenured RPGs to the fighting game scene, and both were developed by Arc System Works, developers of Guilty Gear Strive. As with Granblue, DNF Duel does a great job of adapting the classes of Dungeon Fighter into individual characters via a fighting system that's easy to pick up. It also tells an original story in the DNF universe, which gives tenured Dungeon Fighter fans a reason to try this new take.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mobile (via Netflix)
Developer: SNK
Release Date: June 25, 2019
SNK fell out of fighting game development for a little while in the 2010s--save for a few King of Fighters entries--and Samurai Shodown marked its full-time return in 2019. The gamble paid off, as Samurai Shodown's tense and hard-hitting battles felt right at home with the rest of the fighting game offerings at the time. The bar was set for SNK, and now with Fatal Fury set to return in 2025, the company can thank Samurai Shodown for setting the foundation.
Along with Guilty Gear, Melty Blood is one of the longest-running anime fighting franchises ever made. Type Lumina, which launched in 2021, marked a worthy entry in that lineage, with the Rapid Beat auto-combo system and New Moon System mechanic offering a new way to experience the Melty Blood style of gameplay. Make sure to give Melty Blood a try, as we're sure you'll agree it's a worthy member of the current fighting game landscape.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Developer: Hidden Variable Studios
Release Date: July 7, 2015
Skullgirls 2nd Encore is somehow still going strong in 2024, despite a tumultuous life cycle with multiple developers and publishers causing delays in support and extra content. Now though, the unique team-based fighter has a dedicated circle of fans, thanks to its solid fighting mechanics and fantastic character designs. Skullgirls may be on its 2nd Encore, but we wouldn't be surprised if a third is around the corner, so get in now.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Developer: Arc System Works
Release Date: May 31, 2018
BlazBlue is what happens when a bunch of anime-fighting-game developers put their games into a blender and make a two-on-two team-based fighting smoothie. BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Arcana Heart, Melty Blood, and Under Night In-Birth are but a handful of the franchises on offer here--along with multiple characters from Rooster Teeth's anime RWBY making their fighting game debut. BlazBlue Cross Tag battle is a wild idea made into a wild fighting game, but every match is a ton of fun.
Conectar
